Pushbutton buckle with locking means for stud

ABSTRACT

A seat belt system is disclosed in which a pushbutton buckle carried by a shoulder belt is releasably connected to a stud carried by a lap belt to form a connection between the shoulder belt and the lap belt.

United States Patent Inventor William L. Pringle Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Appl. No. 782,057

Filed Dec. 9, 1968 Patented June 1, 1971 Assignee Jim Robbins Seat Belt Co.

Troy, Mich.

PUSHBU'I'ION BUCKLE WITH LOCKING MEANS FOR STUD 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

u.s.c| 297/389,

' I 24/230 rm. Cl. B60r 21/00 Field of Search 297/389;

24/75, 223, 230.1, 230.1 T, 230.1 U, 211 M References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,665 10/1958 Gimalouski 24/21 1M 3,179,997 4/1965 Jalinaud 24/230.1T 3,404,439 10/1968 Jones 24/230.1T 3,449,800 6/1969 Fisher 24/230.1

Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Hauke, Krass, Gifford and Patalidis ABSTRACT: A seat belt system is disclosed in which a pushbutton buckle carried by a shoulder belt is releasably connected to a stud carried by a lap belt to form a connection between the shoulder belt and the lap belt.

PATENIED JUN H97! $582,136

' sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM L. PRING LE ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN 1 |97| SHEET 2 OF 3 R o T N E V W WILLIAM 1.. PRINGLE lav/i44 A5; z'

- ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN H911 3582.135

' sum 3 OF 3 FIG-6 mvsm'on WILLIAM L. PRINGLE lav/*4 M ATTORNEYS PUSHBUTTON BUCKLE WITH LOCKING MEANS FOR STUD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to seat belt systems, and more particularly to a pushbutton buckle having latch means for releasably engaging a stud to form a connection in a seat belt system.

A problem confronting manufacturers of vehicle seat belt systems is the provision of means for connecting or separating either one or a pair of lap belts to a shoulder belt with a minimum number of buckle components. The problem is particularly severe where there is a system of such belts for each passenger in the vehicle, with each system utilizing several buckle components. One approach to this problem is to connect a buckle on the end of one lap belt, and a plate on the end of the companion lap belt, the plate having an edge portion formed into the shape of a tongue that is releasably engagcable with the buckle. When the tongue and the buckle are buckled together, they form a connection between the two lap belts.

A second buckle having a spring-biased latch is carried on the end of the shoulder belt such that it can be snapped onto a stud carried on the plate. The plate thus provides structure that is receivable into each of two buckles.

Conventional pushbutton buckles provide several advantages over other types of buckles in which the release member is either pivoted away from the buckle housing, or moved in some direction other than toward the base of the buckle housing. This is because the pushbutton release member is usually depressed into the housing so that it is not exposed for an accidental release, or to engage the users clothing. However pushbutton buckles of the prior art are adapted to receive a platelike tongue, not a stud.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a pushbutton buckle mechanism for a safety seat belt system which has a housing for receiving a stud, a latch for locking the stud to the housing and a pushbutton release member that is operable to either prevent or allow the stud to be removed from the housing.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, which will be subsequently described in greater detail, comprises a buckle housing having a flat base, an opening in the base, and in one wall of the housing for receiving the stud in a latch position in which a head on the stud and a plate on which the stud is carried, are adjacent opposite sides of the base. A pair of latch jaws are pivotally mounted in the housing adjacent the studs latching position for motion between a closed, locking position in which they are operable to engage the stud between them, and an open, release position in which they are separated from one another a sufficient distance to allow either insertion or removal of the stud with respect to its latching position.

A release lever is supported in the housing such that it can be pivoted about an axis that is parallel to the base between a first position in which it prevents the latch jaws from being opened, and a second position in which it allows the latch jaws to be opened to allow either insertion or removal of the stud between them. The release lever is biased toward its first position and formed such that it cannot be moved toward its al' ternate position except by a release effort applied to its opposite end, or insertion of the stud into the buckle housing.

The release lever is connected to a pushbutton supported on the housing for motion toward and away with respect to the base. The release lever is pivoted to allow removal of the stud from the housing by depressing the pushbutton toward the base.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pushbutton mechanism releasably engaging the stud. Another object of the present invention is to provide a buckle mechanism for a safety seat belt system in which a stud is receivable through a sidewall of the buckle housing and an opening in the buckle base toward a latching position in which it is engageable with a latch member that is movable in directions parallel to the base between locking and release positions. Still another object is to provide such a buckle mechanism in which the motion of the latch between its locking position and its release position is dependent on the position of a release lever that is pivotally mounted in the buckle housing about an axis that is parallel to the base. A still further object is to provide a buckle mechanism of the aforementioned type in which the buckle housing is carried on the end of a shoulder belt, and the stud is fixedly mounted on a plate, carried by a lap belt, having portions formed into a tongue that is receivable by a buckle carried by a second lap belt. Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawing refers to the accompanying FIGS. in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred seat belt system in the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the belt system of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the buckle on the shoulder belt is engaged with the stud carried by one of the lap belts;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred buckle housing with the cover removed to show the organization of its internal componcnts;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view through the buckle showing the release lever in its raised position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the release lever in its lowered position in which it is operable to prevent opening of the latch jaws; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing an exploded view of the preferred buckle mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a seat belt system 10 in the passenger compartment of a vehicle 12 for restraining the occupant 14 of a seat 16 from being suddenly displaced from his seated position upon the occurrence of an event in which the momentum of the vehicle is suddenly changed as in the case of a collision. The seat belt system comprises a lap belt 18 having its lower end anchored to the floor panel of the vehicle by a connecting member 20 and its upper end carrying a buckle mechanism 22. Buckle mechanism 22 has internally mounted, tongue-locking structure (not shown) which is released upon depression of a pushbutton 24. The buckle mechanism 22 is of a conventional configuration, and is adapted to receive a platelike tongue to a latching position in which it is parallel to the base of the buckle housing with the pushbutton 24 being movable toward a release position by a motion generally normal to the base.

The seat belt system includes a second lap belt 26 having its lower end anchored by a connector 28 to the opposite side of the seat 16 with respect to the lap belt 18. The upper end of the lap belt 26 carries a plate 30 having an edge portion formed into a tongue 32 that can be removably inserted into the buckle mechanism 22 to a latching position in which the buckle and the tongue 32 connect the two lap belts l8 and 26 to one another.

The seat belt system further comprises a shoulder belt 32 having its upper end connected to a suitable vehicle structure such that it can be disposed over the shoulder of the occupant I4. A buckle 34 is carried on the lower end of the shoulder belt 32. The buckle is releasably engageable with the upstanding stud 36 carried on the plate 30 to form a connection between the shoulder belt 32 and the lap belts l8 and 26.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the buckle 34 comprises a buckle housing 36 formed of a metal base member 38 having a flat base, and an opening 40 adjacent one of its edges for receiving the shoulder belt 32. The opening 40 is formed by cutting a wall 42 from the base member which is then bent perpendicular to the base. The base member 38 is formed with a slot 44 that extends normal to its opposite edge for receiving the stud 36 to a latching position in which it is disposed adjacent the inner end of the slot.

The base member also has a pair of apertured lugs 46 and 48 along its opposite side edges which are bent upwardly and normally to the base. A cover 50, formed of plastic, has a projection 52 that snaps into an opening 54 in the wall 42, and a pair of projections 54 and 56 along its sides that snap into the openings pierced in the lugs 46 and 48 so that the cover 50 and the base member 48 are joined to form a housing.

The sidewall of the cover 50 is provided with a cutout portion that forms an opening 58 adjacent the slot 44 of the base member for receiving the stud into the housing.

A pair of latched jaws 60 and 62 are pivotally mounted to the base member 38 by a rivet 64. The two latch jaws 60 and 62 are mounted such that they are slideable across the surface of the base member toward and away with respect to the slot 44 and the latching position ofthe stud.

Referring to FIG. 5, the stud 36 has an enlarged head 66 that is spaced from the plate 30 to a distance generally corresponding tothe thickness of the base member 38 and the thickness of the two latch jaws 60 and 62. The latch jaws are provided with semicircular cutouts 68 and 70 formed so that as the two latch jaws are moved toward one another toward a closed, locking position illustrated in FIG. 3 in which they abut one another, the cutout portion 68 and 70 forms a socket for encircling the neck of the stud below the head 66. The latch jaws are also movable away from one another toward an open, release position in which they are separated from the path of motion of the stud along the slot 44. Thus, in their locking position, the two latch jaws 60 and 62 are disposed in the path of motion of the stud along the slot 44, however in their release position, the latch jaws are not in the path of motion of the stud.

A generally U-shaped spring 72 has one end 74 connected in a recess 76 of the latch jaw 60, and its end 78 engaged in a recess 80 in the latch 62 to bias the two latchjaws toward their locking position.

A release lever 82 is pivotally mounted on a pin 84 that is supported on a pair of lugs 86 and 88 carried by base member 38 such that the lever 82 can be pivoted about an axis that is parallel to the base and transverse to the motion of the stud as it is moved along the slot 44.

A spring 90, carried on the pin 84, biases the release lever 82 toward a lower, first pivotal position, illustrated in FIG. 5, in which a pair of cars 92 and 94 on the lever are disposed on opposite sides of the two latch members, and partially received in a pair of recesses 96 and 98 in the base adjacent the sides of the slot 44. The release lever is pivotal toward a raised, second pivoted position, illustrated in FIG. 4, in which the lugs 92 and 94 are separated from the recesses 96 and 98 and spaced above the path of motion of the latch jaws 60 and 62 from their locking positions toward their release position.

In their lower position, the two lugs 92 and 94 are engaged with the base such that the latch jaws cannot be opened thereby securely retaining the stud 36 in its latching position. However, when the lever 82 is in its raised position, the stud 36 can be removed from its latching position toward the opening 58 in a motion in which the two latch jaws are opened to allow motion of the stud 36 along the slot 44.

The lever 82 has a bent up portion l supported adjacent the opening 58 and over the slot 44 and formed such that as the stud is inserted into the buckle housing, the head 66 of the stud raises the release lever toward its raised position a sufficient distance to clear the path of motion of the latch jaws toward their release position. As the stud is moved toward its latching position, it engages a pair of cutout portions 102 and 104 of the latch jaws and opens them to permit the stud to be moved between the jaws until received between the cutout portion 68 and 70. The latch jaws are then returned to their locking position by the spring 72, and the release lever is moved toward its lower position, under the influence of the spring 90, so that the lugs 92 and 94 are received by the base to lock the stud in its latching position.

The opposite end of the release lever has a pair of arms 106 engageable with the lower side of a pushbutton 108 that is slidably mounted in the cover 50 for motion perpendicular with respect to the base. The pushbutton has a pair of ribs 110 slidably engaged in a pair of slots 112 (only one of which is shown) formed in the cover. The upper position of the pushbutton 108 is defined by a flange 114 that borders opening 116 providing access to the pushbutton. The pushbutton in 108 is movable toward the base against the bias ofa spring 116 mounted between the arms 106 of the release lever and the latch jaw 60. The spring 116 biases the pushbutton toward its upper position.

The connection between the lever and the pushbutton is such that when the pushbutton is in its upper position, it allows the release lever to be moved between its raised and lower position. As the pushbutton is depressed toward the base by a release effort from its upper position, illustrated in FIG. 5, toward its lower position, illustrated in FIG. 4, it pivots the release lever from its lower pivoted position toward its raised pivoted position to allow removal of the stud 36 from its latching position.

Thus it is to be understood that l have described a novel form of buckle for releasably engaging a stud 36 carried by a plate which is particularly suited for connecting a shoulder belt to a lap belt. The preferred buckle mechanism provides an effective means for connecting the shoulder and lap belts in a seat belt system in which only a single piece of buckling hardware is carried on each belt.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A seat belt buckle comprising:

a. a stud;

b. a buckle housing having a planar base, and an opening in the base for receiving the stud to a latching position;

c. a latch mounted in the housing for motion parallel to the base between a locking position in which it is disposed in the path of motion of the stud as it is removed from its latching position, and a release position in which it is not in the path of motion of the stud;

d. a bias member connected to the latch to urge it toward its locking position; and

e. a pushbutton mounted on the housing for a release motion from a first position toward a second position in which it is moved toward the base, and

f. a lever connecting said pushbutton to the latch such that the stud cannot be moved from its latching position at such times as the pushbutton is in its first position, and the stud can be moved from its latching position at such times as the pushbutton is in its second position, said lever being supported in the housing for motion about an axis parallel to the base, said lever being connected to the pushbutton so as to be pivoted from a first position toward a second position as the pushbutton is moved from its first position toward the base, said lever being engageable with the latch to prevent motion of the latch from its locking position toward its release position at such times as the lever is in its first position, and being inoperable to prevent motion of the latch when the lever is in its second position.

2. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the latch is formed so as to be moved by the stud from its locking position toward its release position as the stud is moved through the opening in the base toward its latching position.

3. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the lever is formed such that it is engageable with the stud so as to be moved toward its second position as the stud is moved through the opening in the base toward its latching position.

4. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which one end of the lever is engageable with the pushbutton, and its other opposite end is formed so as to be disposed in the path of motion of the latch from its locking position toward its release position when the lever is in its first position.

5. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the stud is moved toward its latching position by a motion of the stud through the opening in the base parallel to the base, the stud having a configuration preventing its motion from its latching position through the opening in a direction normal to the basev 6. In a vehicle, a seat belt system comprising:

a. a pair oflap belts, each having one end connected to the vehicle;

b. a buckle having tongue-locking structure carried at the free end of one ofthe lap belts;

c. a plate carried at the free end of the other lap belt, the

plate having a tongue releasably engageable with the tongue-locking structure of the buckle to form a connection between the two lap belts;

d. a stud havinga head, the stud being supported on the plates such that the head is spaced with respect to the plate;

. a shoulder belt having one end connected to the vehicle;

. a buckle housing carried by the shoulder belt and at its other end,'the housing having a base with an opening for receiving the stud by a motion of the housing with respect to the plate in which the head of the stud is received toward a latching position in the housing;

g. latch means in the housing supported for motion between the locking position, in which it is operable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position, and a release position, in which it is inoperable to prevent removal of the stud with respect to its latching position;

h. a bias member urging the latch means toward its locking position; and

i. a pushbutton mounted on the buckle housing for a motion between a pair of positions in which the pushbutton is moved in directions substantially normal with respect to the housing base, the pushbutton being connected to the latch means to allow the latch means to be moved from its locking position toward its release position, at such times as the head of the stud is in its latching position, only subc. latch means supported in a housing for motion between a locking position in which it is operable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position in a motion parallel to the base, and a release position in which it is inoperable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position;

d. a bias member urging the latch means toward its locking position; and

a pushbutton supported on the housing for motion between a pair of positions in directions normal to the base, the pushbutton being connected to the latch means to allow the latch means to be moved from its locking position toward its release position at such time as the pushbutton is moved between itspositions in a motion toward the base.

8. A buckle as set forth in claim 7 including a lever interconnecting said pushbutton and said latch means, said lever having a first position engaging said latch means for preventing said latch means from moving out of its locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.

9. A system as set forth in claim 6 including a lever interconnecting said'pushbutton and said latch means, said lever having a-first position engaging said latch means for preventing said latch means from moving out ofits locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.

10. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising: a housing having an opening therein for receiving a stud, latch means movably mounted in said housing for movement between a locking position in which it is disposed in the path of the stud into and out of said housing and a release position out of said path of the stud, a pushbutton movably mounted in said housing, a lever movably supported in said housing, said lever having a first position engaging said latch means for preventing the latter from moving out of its locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lever includes means engageable with the stud upon insertion of the stud into said housing to move said lever toward its second position. 

1. A seat belt buckle comprising: a. a stud; b. a buckle housing having a planar base, and an opening in the base for receiving the stud to a latching position; c. a latch mounted in the housing for motion parallel to the base between a locking position in which it is disposed in the path of motion of the stud as it is removed from its latching position, and a release position in which it is not in the path of motion of the stud; d. a bias member connected to the latch to urge it toward its locking position; and e. a pushbutton mounted on the housing for a release motion from a first position toward a second position in which it is moved toward the base, and f. a lever connecting said pushbutton to the latch such that the stud cannot be moved from its latching position at such times as the pushbutton is in its first position, and the stud can be moved from its latching position at such times as the pushbutton is in its second position, said lever being supported in the housing for motion about an axis parallel to the base, said lever being connected to the pushbutton so as to be pivoted from a first position toward a second position as the pushbutton is moved from its first position toward the base, said lever being engageable with the latch to prevent motion of the latch from its locking position toward its release position at such times as the lever is in its first position, and being inoperable to prevent motion of the latch when the lever is in its second position.
 2. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the latch is formed so as to be moved by the stud from its locking position toward its release position as the stud is moved through the opening in the base toward its latching position.
 3. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the lever is formed such that it is engageable with the stud so as to be moved toward its second position as the stud is moved through the opening in the base toward its latching position.
 4. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which one end of the lever is engageable with the pushbutton, and its other opposite end is formed so as to be disposed in the path of motion of the latch from its locking position toward its release position when the lever is in its first position.
 5. A seat belt buckle as defined in claim 1, in which the stud is moved toward its latching position by a motion of the stud through the opening in the base parallel to the base, the stud having a configuration preventing its motion from its latching position through the opening in a direction normal to the base.
 6. In a vehicle, a seat belt system comprising: a. a pair of lap belts, each having one end connected to the vehicle; b. a buckle having tongue-locking structure carried at the free end of one of the lap belts; c. a plate carried at the free end of the other lap belt, the plate having a tongue releasably engageable with the tongue-locking structure of the buckle to form a connection between the two lap belts; d. a stud having a head, the stud being supported on the plates such that the head is spaced with respect to the plate; e. a shoulder belt having one end connected to the vehicle; f. a buckle housing carried by the shoulder belt and at its other end, the housing having a base with an opening for receiving the stud by a motion of the housing with respect to the plate in which the head of the stud is received toward a latching position in the housing; g. latch means in the housing supported for motion between the locking position, in which it is operable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position, and a release position, in which it is inoperable to prevent removal of the stud with respect to its latching position; h. a bias member urging the latch means toward its locking position; and i. a pushbutton mounted on the buckle housing for a motion between a pair of positions in which the pushbutton is moved in directions substantially normal with respect to the housing base, the pushbutton being connected to the latch means to allow the latch means to be moved from its locking position toward its release position, at such times as the head of the stud is in its latching position, only subsequent to a motion of the pushbutton between its position toward the base.
 7. A seat belt buckle comprising: a. a stud; b. a buckle housing having a planar base, and an opening in the base for receiving the stud to a latching position by a motion of the stud along a path parallel to the base; c. latch means supported in a housing for motion between a locking position in which it is operable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position in a motion parallel to the base, and a release position in which it is inoperable to prevent removal of the stud from its latching position; d. a bias member urging the latch means toward its locking position; and e. a pushbutton supported on the housing for motion between a pair of positions in directions normal to the base, the pushbutton being connected to the latch means to aLlow the latch means to be moved from its locking position toward its release position at such time as the pushbutton is moved between its positions in a motion toward the base.
 8. A buckle as set forth in claim 7 including a lever interconnecting said pushbutton and said latch means, said lever having a first position engaging said latch means for preventing said latch means from moving out of its locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.
 9. A system as set forth in claim 6 including a lever interconnecting said pushbutton and said latch means, said lever having a first position engaging said latch means for preventing said latch means from moving out of its locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.
 10. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising: a housing having an opening therein for receiving a stud, latch means movably mounted in said housing for movement between a locking position in which it is disposed in the path of the stud into and out of said housing and a release position out of said path of the stud, a pushbutton movably mounted in said housing, a lever movably supported in said housing, said lever having a first position engaging said latch means for preventing the latter from moving out of its locking position and a second position for allowing said latch means to move to its release position, said lever being connected to said pushbutton so as to be moved to said first position in response to movement of said pushbutton.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lever includes means engageable with the stud upon insertion of the stud into said housing to move said lever toward its second position. 